The idea of a “Mid-Gen Refresh” for videogame consoles is still very much in its infancy, and with absolutely no idea what the next generation of hardware is going to look like (or when it will happen), I’m having difficulty labeling it a “trend” either. Microsoft does not seem to have much interest in a Series X…X(?) as a follow-up to the XBox One X, so Sony seem like the only ones crazy enough to consider such a thing as even necessary.
HIGH Fast action. Intense enemy design. Impressive visuals.
LOW Puzzles can be offputtingly difficult in single-player.
WTF There are challenge modes to make things harder???
Last year I was feeling a bit snarky after what I thought was a pretty underwhelming year for new releases, so I populated my top 10 list with nothing but remakes and remasters. I still stand by this choice, as it allowed me to somehow award Dragon Quest XI my Game of the Year three times in a row. Thankfully, 2021 has proven to be a much stronger year. I’m also feeling less dour than I was at the end of 2020, so I wanted to do the inverse and focus this year’s GOTY list on only truly new releases.
HIGH Judgment is still a helluva videogame.
LOW This particular version of Judgment is a rip-off for those who already own it.
WTF At least they didn’t call it Judgment: Enhanced Edition.
HIGH The deepest, most satisfying combat (maybe) in the history of the genre.
LOW It’s not exactly a showpiece for next-gen hardware.
WTF V needs some proper footwear.